21839848
not annotated - annotated - LINNAEUS only
The small GTPase BcCdc42 affects nuclear division, germination and virulence of the gray mold fungus Botrytis cinerea.
The small GTPase Cdc42 plays a central role in various processes in eukaryotic cells including growth, differentiation and cytoskeleton organization. Whereas it is essential in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, its role in filamentous fungi differs, due to the complementing, partly overlapping function of Rac. We analyzed the role of the Cdc42 homologue in the necrotrophic, broad host range pathogen Botrytis cinerea. Deletion mutants of bccdc42 showed various growth abnormalities; the mutants had reduced growth rate and hyphal branching, they produced fewer conidia, which were enlarged and misshapen and had germination defects. Additionally, the mutants were impaired in sclerotia development. Cytological studies indicate that at least part of this phenotype could be attributed to disturbed control of nuclear division: conidia and hyphae of the mutant showed twofold higher nucleus/cytoplasm ratio compared to wild type cells. Apart from these effects on vegetative growth and differentiation, Deltabccdc42 strains were attenuated in penetration and colonization of host tissue, confirming that BcCdc42 - though being not essential like in yeast - is involved in important developmental processes in B. cinerea.
Ann file
T1 Species 101 117 Botrytis cinerea
N1 Reference T1 Taxonomy:40559
T2 Out-of-scope 302 307 yeast
T3 Species 308 332 Saccharomyces cerevisiae
N3 Reference T3 Taxonomy:4932
T4 Species 526 542 Botrytis cinerea
N4 Reference T4 Taxonomy:40559
T5 Out-of-scope 1274 1279 yeast
T6 Species 1334 1344 B. cinerea
N6 Reference T6 Taxonomy:40559
N2 Reference T2 Taxonomy:147537 Saccharomycotina
N5 Reference T5 Taxonomy:147537 Saccharomycotina